NCP to Contest Local Elections Independently to Strengthen Grassroots Base

The youth-led National Citizens Party (NCP) is gearing up to contest the upcoming local government elections independently, bypassing formal political alliances. Party leaders state this solo strategy aims to strengthen the NCP's grassroots organizational base, despite acknowledging the risk of losing some seats due to divided votes.

Just a year after its debut following the July Uprising, the NCP secured six parliamentary seats in its first general election. The party is now prioritizing structural expansion, actively forming committees down to the ward level nationwide.

Sarjis Alam, a chief organizer of the NCP, noted that the party's organizational drive is now more dynamic than during the parliamentary polls. He explained that new committees are being established in previously unreached areas, while existing grassroots structures are undergoing performance-based reforms.

"We must build committees down to the ward level to generate a strong political movement for the elections," Alam said. He acknowledged that while going solo solidifies the party's foundation, vote-splitting could hurt their winning chances in certain constituencies.

NCP Spokesperson Asif Mahmud also reaffirmed the party's readiness to contest alone. He pointed out that because the exact schedule and framework for the local government elections remain uncertain, the NCP has not engaged in any formal alliance talks.

Mahmud emphasized the party's uncompromising stance on preserving its clean image. Although several established and influential politicians have expressed interest in joining, the NCP is actively rejecting controversial figures. The leadership refuses to recruit tainted individuals merely to add political weight, fearing it would severely damage the party's local and national credibility.